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National Tennis c’ships from tomorrow
By M. Shamil Amit
The 88th National Tennis championships, the oldest tennis event in the country will get underway tomorrow and is scheduled to go on till September 7. The championship this year is sponsored by F and G Property Dwellers and Fingara Club.

Maxwell de Silva secretary of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) speaking at a press briefing held at the Fingara Club said "We are glad F and G Property Dwellers and Fingara Club have decided to invest in sport and tennis in particular. It is good news for sport when new companies decide to get involved in tennis and I can say with certainty that F and G and Fingara have done wisely to link up with Sri Lanka's oldest tennis tournament.

He further said that their involvement comes at a time when all the devolopment work put in by the SLTA is beginning to bring in results". Last year's national was historic in that a 14 year old schoolboy won the men's singles, the youngest in the 88 year history of the nationals.

From among the 300 odd entries received this year the main attraction will be the men's singles where defending champion Franklin Emmanuel is bound to face stiff challenge from Renouk Wijemanne, who is on a tennis scholarship in the U.S.A.

Southern Monsoon rally on Sept 14
The Southern Monsoon rally 2003 organised by the Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC) will be held on September 14 in Matara. This year the organizers have decided to conduct the normally three day event to a one day rally, but will maintain the excitement, challenge and entertainment that they incorporate in their well-known Southern Rally.

The rally will begin and terminate at the newly opened premises of Wheels Lanka (Pvt) Ltd who are the main sponsors of this event along with three co-sponsors HNB Assurance, Century Finance and Lanka Orix Leasing Company. The Southern Motor Sports Club has drawn up plans to take the competitors through a very exciting, challenging and memorable route, a statement issued by the SMSC said.

The organisers say that the plotters of the route have made it a point to provide the competitors with something that they will remember for years to come. The rally traverses not only through the beautiful landscapes of the south, but also through major places in the Matara, Galle and Hambantota districts covering a route of approximately 300 kms. It consists of two stages with a two-hour stopover at Embilipitiya.

The Southern Motor Sports Club believes that it is the proper combination of the skills of the driver, navigator (co-driver) and the competing vehicle that decides the success of motor rallying. "Unlike in many other motor rallies held elsewhere in the past, where the role of the navigator has been comparatively undermined, the navigators participating in the Southern Monsoon Rally 2003 will have a more challenging task equally important with that of the driver", an organising committee spokesman told the the Sunday Times. Entries for the Rally opened on August 16 and closes on September 9.

Organisers say they will be awarding as many as 80 trophies to the stage and overall winners. The awards distribution will take place at a musical show which will also take place at Royal Gardens Hotel at Pamburana, Matara.-MSA

National Guard wins Army judo championship
By M. Shamil Amit
The Army National Guard regiment emerged the overall champions at the annual Army Inter-Regiment Judo Championships held at the Army gymnasium in Panagoda recently. Though they won most of the individual bouts they lost the team championships to the Ordinance Corps whom they defeated last year.

The championship was organized by the Army Judo Committee spearheaded by chairman of the organizing committee Major B.S.G Nanayakkara and conducted over a period of three days.

The Ordinance Corps finished as runners up while P.S.G.T.S. Parakaduwa of the Artillery Regiment won the open event when he defeated S.P.G.P.P. Yasaratne of Pioneer Corps.

Over 250 judokas from the regiments around the island participated in this championship. The chief guest at the closing ceremony was Major General D.S.K. Wijesuriya who gave away the awards.

Susie's 'carry on series' must end
Its high time that the sports loving public realised that the once upon a time 'golden girl' is not getting any younger. Her performances are limited and there is a crop of young athletes coming forward from all countries almost every day...
By Bernie Wijesekera
Sri Lankan sportsmen and sportswomen apparently have the habit of making excuses for their poor performances. Especially at present. The comments made by 'Golden Girl' Susanthika Jayasinghe, at the recent World Track and Field Championships, held in France. is a sad reflection and a bad example to emerging youngsters. These comments were made after she lost the race. She says according to newspaper reports, that it was the worst international meet she has taken part. Could this be an excuse for her defeat?

The American contingent with so many world class athletes and their officials said that they had no problems with the village facilities, barring the Lankan athlete, that, too after she lost to the world champions in the heat.

She's talking about the food, transport, the rooms being too small. Of course she has not come with her family on a holiday to enjoy in France, at the height of the Summer in Europe. But she still complains about the weather being pretty cold in the mornings. What has happened to her warm clothes. Did she leave them behind?
Did the AAA or the tour management look into these areas and educate the athletes about the do’s and don'ts and planned ahead?

Who gave her permission to speak to the media? It should be the manager or the media spokesman. This is a common trend among some participants when they are on tour. There is no code of ethics or a guideline set for them.

An under-privileged girl like Susanthika, who hails from Warakapola despite trials and tribulations did proud for the country in the international circuit. It was nothing but sheer grit and determination. She richly deserves all the support and encouragement. This was afforded to her by the State, the Private Sector and sport loving fans at home and abroad.

Especially in Australia, the Lankan community headed by evergreen Eddie Gray, the diehard old Royalist. They even started a project Susanthika for "Gold Athens 2004" to assist her with men and material. Today she is enjoying a comfortable life which she richly deserves for her exploits whilst burning the tracks at home and abroad.

She's a rebel with a cause. Apparently with no proper academic background, guidance or motivation. As a result she can't be blamed for her outbursts. Now with her experience she's matured and must learn to take defeat in life rather than giving excuses when she fails to impress (false starts or otherwise). In the end she will be accused for her conduct being a Buddhist, she must always be humble, and believe in Anicca (impermanent). She must look back and think 'My life has been a long struggle.'

In tatters
Her athletic career was in tatters plagued with alleged allegations and the village girl found it doubly difficult to overcome. It was here that Daham Wimalasena, who stepped in to guide her like a foster father and put her on the track, whilst others were trying to destroy her. Daham supported by the likes of late Kavan Rambukwelle, Ken Balendra, Eraj Wijesinghe, Lakshman Kadirgamar, late C.V. Gunaratne, members of the Duncan White Foundation performed the rescue act. Daham was the beacon light. Otherwise she would have been in the wilderness.

The first Olympic Silver medalist Duncan White hadn't all the wherewithal unlike the present day athletes. He hadn't the money even to buy a pair of joggers. Through sheer commitment despite undergoing hardships, did well to put Sri Lanka in the world athletic map when leapt over the hurdle like a gazzle to become the first winner of an Olympic medal in 1948 Games in Wembley. Duncan is gone but his name is treasured for humility.

His team mates Summa Navaratnam, Eddie Gray, John de Saram, Alex Obeysekera, Albert Perera etc., were there to cheer him. His only reward was creating history. Eddie Gray was there to watch the second Olympic medal winner from Sri Lanka, Susanthika Jayasinghe when she ran a great race to win the bronze.

This scribe was there to watch this great run in Sydney afforded with a ticket, thanks to Sri Lankan sports promoter Harry Solomons also from Ruhuna. When Susie comes under starter's orders at the Athens Games she will be four years older, apparently with some of her sparks gone.

There will be more young athletes who will be firing all cylinders running with vim and vigour. She has to make a concerted effort to be in contention rather than making lame excuses.

In the twilight
Most of the present athletes are in the twilight of their career. They can't enjoy a 'Carry on Series' unlike in other sports, for mere material gains. It's not like running in the SAF Games where medals go abegging due to poor competition. Even at 35 one could win a medal?.

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